Oviedo (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Carlos Osoro Sierra, Archbishop
Cecilio Raúl Berzosa Martínez, Auxiliary Bishop
Gabino Díaz Merchán, Archbishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Elevated: 27 October 1954
Metropolitan See
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Spain
Square Kilometers: 10,565 (4,080 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: http://www.iglesiadeasturias.org/
Mailing Address: Corrada del Obispo 1, 33003 Oviedo, Espana
Telephone: 985.20.97.37
Fax: 985.20.51.97

Historical Details

Diocese of Oviedo
- Latin Name: Ovetensis
- Erected: 811
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Santiago de Compostela
- Country: Spain

Past and Present Ordinaries

García Ramírez Villaescusa † (16 Mar 1502 Appointed - 23 Apr 1508 Died)
Valeriano Ordóñez Villaquirán † (22 Dec 1508 Appointed - 12 Aug 1512 Died)
Diego de Muros † (1 Oct 1512 Appointed - 18 Aug 1525 Died)
Francisco Mendoza † (6 Nov 1525 Appointed - 3 Apr 1527 Appointed, Bishop of Zamora)
Diego Acuña † (23 Apr 1527 Appointed - 1532 Died)
Fernando Valdés † (1 Jul 1532 Appointed - 30 May 1539 Appointed, Bishop of León)
Martín Tristán Calvete † (30 May 1539 Appointed - 1546 Died)
Cristóbal Rojas Sandoval † (8 Oct 1546 Appointed - 4 May 1556 Appointed, Bishop of Badajoz)
Jerónimo Velasco † (4 May 1556 Appointed - 16 Aug 1566 Died)
Juan Ayora † (8 Jan 1567 Appointed - 24 May 1569 Died)
Gonzalo de Solórzano † (18 Feb 1570 Appointed - 1580 Died)
Francisco Antonio Orantes Vélez, O.F.M. † (6 Mar 1581 Appointed - 12 Oct 1584 Died)
Diego Aponte Quiñones, O.S. † (28 Jan 1585 Appointed - 31 Aug 1598 Appointed, Bishop of Málaga)
Gonzalo Gutiérrez Montilla † (18 Sep 1598 Appointed - 20 Jun 1602 Died)
Alonso Martínez de la Torre, O.S. † (16 Apr 1603 Appointed - 11 Sep 1604 Died)
Juan Alvarez de Caldas † (12 Jan 1605 Appointed - 14 Apr 1612 Appointed, Bishop of Avila)
Francisco de la Cueva, O.S.A. † (17 Sep 1612 Appointed - 30 Nov 1615 Died)
Alsono Martín de Zuñiga † (18 Jun 1616 Appointed - 23 Mar 1623 Appointed, Bishop of Osma)
Juan Torres de Osorio † (29 May 1624 Appointed - 19 Jul 1627 Appointed, Bishop of Valladolid)
Juan Pereda Gudiel † (9 Aug 1627 Appointed - 25 May 1632 Died)
Martín Carrillo Alderete † (10 Jan 1633 Appointed - 9 Jun 1636 Appointed, Bishop of Osma)
Antonio Valdés Herrera † (23 Jun 1636 Appointed - 21 Oct 1641 Appointed, Bishop of Osma)
Bernardo Caballero Paredes † (13 Jan 1642 Appointed - 13 Apr 1661 Died)
Ambrosio Ignacio Spínola y Guzmán † ( 1665 Appointed - 9 Apr 1667 Appointed, Archbishop of Valencia)
José Fernández del Toro † ( 1707 Ordained Bishop - Jul 1719 Resigned)
Antonio Maldonado Minoja † ( 1720 Ordained Bishop - 22 Jun 1722 Died)
Tomás José Ruiz Montes † (15 Mar 1723 Appointed - 11 Sep 1724 Appointed, Archbishop (Personal Title) of Cartagena (en España))
José Hendaya Haro † (11 Sep 1724 Appointed - 5 Oct 1729 Died)
Juan Garcia Avello y Castrillón † (8 Jan 1730 Appointed - 30 Oct 1744 Died)
Gaspar José Vázquez Tablada † (19 Jul 1745 Appointed - 29 Dec 1745 Died)
Felipe Martín Ovejero † (22 Jul 1750 Appointed - 30 Oct 1753 Died)
Juan Francisco Manrique Lara † (1 Apr 1754 Appointed - 21 Apr 1760 Appointed, Bishop of Plasencia)
Augstín González Pisador † (21 Jul 1760 Appointed - 17 Mar 1791 Died)
Juan Llano Ponte † (26 Sep 1791 Appointed - 29 Apr 1805 Died)
Gregorio Hermida y Gamba (Camba) † (26 Aug 1806 Appointed - 10 Nov 1814 Died)
Gregorio Ceruelo la Fuente † (10 Jul 1815 Appointed - 26 Mar 1836 Died)
Ignacio Díaz Caneja † (17 Jan 1848 Appointed - 20 Nov 1856 Died)
Juan de la Cruz Ignacio Moreno y Maisanove † (25 Sep 1857 Appointed - 1 Oct 1863 Appointed, Archbishop of Valladolid)
José Luis Montagut Rubio † (21 Dec 1863 Appointed - 22 Jun 1868 Appointed, Bishop of Segorbe)
Benito Sanz y Forés † (22 Jun 1868 Appointed - 18 Nov 1881 Appointed, Archbishop of Valladolid)
Sebastián Herrero Espinosa de los Monteros † (27 Mar 1882 Appointed - 15 Mar 1883 Appointed, Bishop of Córdoba)
Ramón Martínez y Vigil, O.P. † (27 Mar 1884 Appointed - 17 Aug 1904 Died)
Francisco Javier Baztán y Urniza † (14 Nov 1904 Appointed - 18 Oct 1920 Retired)
Juan Bautista Luis y Pérez † (30 Nov 1921 Appointed - 6 Nov 1934 Died)
Justo Antonino de Echeguren y Aldama † (28 Jan 1935 Appointed - 16 Aug 1937 Died)
Manuel Arce y Ochotorena † (22 Jan 1938 Appointed - 29 Mar 1944 Appointed, Archbishop of Tarragona)
Benjamín de Arriba y Castro † (8 Aug 1944 Appointed - 22 Jan 1949 Appointed, Archbishop of Tarragona)
Francisco Javer Lauzurica y Torralba † (8 Apr 1949 Appointed - 12 Apr 1964 Died)
Vicente Enrique y Tarancón † (12 Apr 1964 Appointed - 30 Jan 1969 Appointed, Archbishop of Toledo)
Gabino Díaz Merchán (4 Aug 1969 Appointed - 7 Jan 2002 Retired)
Carlos Osoro Sierra (7 Jan 2002 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Diocese of Oviedo
811	Erected		Diocese of Oviedo (erected)
Archdiocese of Oviedo
27 October 1954	Elevated	Diocese of Oviedo	Archdiocese of Oviedo

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

Diocese of Oviedo

1950 1,300,000 1,300,040 100.0% 718 175 893 1,455 175 825 1,150 ap1951

Archdiocese of Oviedo

1969 1,030,000 .0% 726 248 974 0 432 1,780 455 ap1971

1980 1,152,505 1,170,650 98.5% 637 188 825 1,396 299 1,399 944 ap1981

1990 1,092,856 1,107,010 98.7% 583 174 757 1,443 274 1,244 949 ap1991

1999 1,032,069 1,081,834 95.4% 526 154 680 1,517 253 1,076 943 ap2000

2000 1,032,069 1,081,834 95.4% 517 163 680 1,517 261 1,068 943 ap2001

2001 1,034,435 1,084,314 95.4% 497 161 658 1,572 252 1,050 943 ap2002

2002 1,016,185 1,075,329 94.5% 486 157 643 1,580 249 1,030 934 ap2003

2003 1,003,777 1,062,198 94.5% 475 149 624 1,608 239 1,018 934 ap2004

2004 1,016,235 1,075,381 94.5% 463 142 605 1,679 236 976 934 ap2005

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Diocese of Oviedo
1950	1,300,000	1,300,040	100.0%	718	175	893	1,455	175	825	1,150	ap1951
Archdiocese of Oviedo
1969		1,030,000	.0%	726	248	974	0	432	1,780	455	ap1971
1980	1,152,505	1,170,650	98.5%	637	188	825	1,396	299	1,399	944	ap1981
1990	1,092,856	1,107,010	98.7%	583	174	757	1,443	274	1,244	949	ap1991
1999	1,032,069	1,081,834	95.4%	526	154	680	1,517	253	1,076	943	ap2000
2000	1,032,069	1,081,834	95.4%	517	163	680	1,517	261	1,068	943	ap2001
2001	1,034,435	1,084,314	95.4%	497	161	658	1,572	252	1,050	943	ap2002
2002	1,016,185	1,075,329	94.5%	486	157	643	1,580	249	1,030	934	ap2003
2003	1,003,777	1,062,198	94.5%	475	149	624	1,608	239	1,018	934	ap2004
2004	1,016,235	1,075,381	94.5%	463	142	605	1,679	236	976	934	ap2005

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

Affiliated Bishops

Diego Acuña † (Bishop: 23 Apr 1527 to 1532)
Juan Alvarez de Caldas † (Bishop: 12 Jan 1605 to 14 Apr 1612)
Diego Aponte Quiñones, O.S. † (Bishop: 28 Jan 1585 to 31 Aug 1598)
Manuel Arce y Ochotorena † (Bishop: 22 Jan 1938 to 29 Mar 1944)
Benjamín de Arriba y Castro † (Bishop: 8 Aug 1944 to 22 Jan 1949)
Juan Ayora † (Bishop: 8 Jan 1567 to 24 May 1569)
Francisco Javier Baztán y Urniza † (Bishop: 14 Nov 1904 to 18 Oct 1920)
Cecilio Raúl Berzosa Martínez (Auxiliary Bishop: 22 Mar 2005)
Bernardo Caballero Paredes † (Bishop: 13 Jan 1642 to 13 Apr 1661)
Martín Carrillo Alderete † (Bishop: 10 Jan 1633 to 9 Jun 1636)
Francisco José Castillo Albaráñez † (Auxiliary Bishop: 5 Oct 1716 - )
Gregorio Ceruelo la Fuente † (Bishop: 10 Jul 1815 to 26 Mar 1836)
Francisco de la Cueva, O.S.A. † (Bishop: 17 Sep 1612 to 30 Nov 1615)
Ignacio Díaz Caneja † (Bishop: 17 Jan 1848 to 20 Nov 1856)
Gabino Díaz Merchán (Archbishop: 4 Aug 1969 to 7 Jan 2002)
Justo Antonino de Echeguren y Aldama † (Bishop: 28 Jan 1935 to 16 Aug 1937)
Vicente Enrique y Tarancón † (Archbishop: 12 Apr 1964 to 30 Jan 1969)
José Fernández del Toro † (Bishop: 1707 to Jul 1719)
Juan Garcia Avello y Castrillón † (Bishop: 8 Jan 1730 to 30 Oct 1744)
Segundo Garcia de Sierra y Méndez † (Priest: 24 Jun 1931 to 28 Jul 1954; Coadjutor Archbishop: 20 Nov 1959 to 7 Feb 1964)
Augstín González Pisador † (Bishop: 21 Jul 1760 to 17 Mar 1791)
Gonzalo Gutiérrez Montilla † (Bishop: 18 Sep 1598 to 20 Jun 1602)
José Hendaya Haro † (Bishop: 11 Sep 1724 to 5 Oct 1729)
Gregorio Hermida y Gamba (Camba) † (Bishop: 26 Aug 1806 to 10 Nov 1814)
Sebastián Herrero Espinosa de los Monteros † (Bishop: 27 Mar 1882 to 15 Mar 1883)
Francisco Javer Lauzurica y Torralba † (Bishop: 8 Apr 1949; Archbishop: 27 Oct 1954 to 12 Apr 1964)
Juan Llano Ponte † (Auxiliary Bishop: 20 Nov 1769; Bishop: 26 Sep 1791 to 29 Apr 1805)
Juan Bautista Luis y Pérez † (Bishop: 30 Nov 1921 to 6 Nov 1934)
Antonio Maldonado Minoja † (Bishop: 1720 to 22 Jun 1722)
Juan Francisco Manrique Lara † (Bishop: 1 Apr 1754 to 21 Apr 1760)
Alsono Martín de Zuñiga † (Bishop: 18 Jun 1616 to 23 Mar 1623)
Alonso Martínez de la Torre, O.S. † (Bishop: 16 Apr 1603 to 11 Sep 1604)
Ramón Martínez y Vigil, O.P. † (Bishop: 27 Mar 1884 to 17 Aug 1904)
Felipe Martín Ovejero † (Bishop: 22 Jul 1750 to 30 Oct 1753)
Francisco Mendoza † (Bishop: 6 Nov 1525 to 3 Apr 1527)
José Luis Montagut Rubio † (Bishop: 21 Dec 1863 to 22 Jun 1868)
Juan de la Cruz Ignacio Moreno y Maisanove † (Bishop: 25 Sep 1857 to 1 Oct 1863)
Diego de Muros † (Bishop: 1 Oct 1512 to 18 Aug 1525)
Francisco Antonio Orantes Vélez, O.F.M. † (Bishop: 6 Mar 1581 to 12 Oct 1584)
Valeriano Ordóñez Villaquirán † (Bishop: 22 Dec 1508 to 12 Aug 1512)
Carlos Osoro Sierra (Archbishop: 7 Jan 2002)
Juan Pereda Gudiel † (Bishop: 9 Aug 1627 to 25 May 1632)
García Ramírez Villaescusa † (Bishop: 16 Mar 1502 to 23 Apr 1508)
Atilano Rodríguez Martínez (Priest: 15 Aug 1970; Auxiliary Bishop: 5 Jan 1996 to 26 Feb 2003)
Cristóbal Rojas Sandoval † (Bishop: 8 Oct 1546 to 4 May 1556)
Tomás José Ruiz Montes † (Archbishop (Personal Title): 15 Mar 1723 to 11 Sep 1724)
José Sánchez González (Auxiliary Bishop: 15 Jan 1980 to 11 Sep 1991)
Benito Sanz y Forés † (Bishop: 22 Jun 1868 to 18 Nov 1881)
Gonzalo de Solórzano † (Bishop: 18 Feb 1570 to 1580)
Ambrosio Ignacio Spínola y Guzmán † (Bishop: 1665 to 9 Apr 1667)
Juan Torres de Osorio † (Bishop: 29 May 1624 to 19 Jul 1627)
Martín Tristán Calvete † (Bishop: 30 May 1539 to 1546)
Fernando Valdés † (Bishop: 1 Jul 1532 to 30 May 1539)
Antonio Valdés Herrera † (Bishop: 23 Jun 1636 to 21 Oct 1641)
Gaspar José Vázquez Tablada † (Bishop: 19 Jul 1745 to 29 Dec 1745)
Jerónimo Velasco † (Bishop: 4 May 1556 to 16 Aug 1566)
Elías Yanes Alvarez (Auxiliary Bishop: 28 Oct 1970 to 3 Jun 1977)

Archdiocese of Oviedo

Archidioecesis Ovetensis